EDMONTON – The Alberta Crown is appealing the manslaughter conviction of an Australian woman who drowned her two young sons in the family bathtub.
In its appeal, Alberta Justice states the judge made some legal errors in relying on testimony from an expert witness whose opinion was not backed by evidence. The question of intent is also being raised.
They want the acquittals of the original charges reversed, or a new trial ordered.
Allyson McConnell was originally charged with second-degree murder, but was convicted last month of the lesser charge.
The judge based her ruling on a lack of evidence about McConnell’s mental state and intent when she killed her children in a community south of Edmonton in 2010.
Alberta Justice is seeking to have the conviction changed to second-degree murder or for another trial to be held.
McConnell is to be sentenced for manslaughter on June 4.
During the trial, court heard McConnell and her husband were in the middle of a bitter divorce and she wanted to take their children back to Australia.
With files from Global News
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